Dagestan Attack: Gunmen Open Fire On Churches, Synagogues; Officers and Civilians Killed, Injured

Several gunmen opened fire on two Orthodox churches and two synagogues in Derbent and Makhachkala, in Russia's North Caucasus region of Dagestan. Videos circulated online showing buildings set on fire as gunmen engaged in shootouts with police.

Gunfire was reportedly exchanged in an Orthodox church in the town that is a UNESCO heritage site. Another shootout was reported at a police post in Makhachkala, about 75 miles to the north along the Caspian Sea coast and the main city in Dagestan, a mainly Muslim region in southern Russia.

At least two police officers and two civilians were killed, news agencies quoted the Russian Interior Ministry as saying; and at least six people were wounded.

Shamil Khadulaev, chairman of the Public Monitoring Commission of Dagestan, said a 66-year-old priest was found with his throat slashed at an Orthodox church, according to TASS news agency reports.

Sergei Melikov, head of Dagestan reportedly said "unknown persons" in Derbent and Makhachkala attempted to "destabilize the social situation."

Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement, said: "The synagogue in Derbent was set on fire and burned to the ground. Local guards were killed. The synagogue in Makhachkala was attacked by gunfire, there are no further details. At the same time, churches were attacked in Makhachkala and a priest was murdered in Derbent. As far as is known, there were no worshipers in the synagogues at the time of the attack and there are no known casualties from among the Jewish community. The Israeli embassy in Moscow is in contact with the leaders of the Jewish community in the district."

The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation has reportedly opened a terrorism investigation in response to the "armed attacks in Derbent and Makhachkala, as a result of which police officers and civilians were killed and injured."

WATCH gunmen attack churches and synagogues in Dagestan